Greetings eHarlequin Community from the Medical Romance authors!

by Lynne Marshall on June 29th, 2009, 1:39pm Login or Register to post comments

We are thrilled to have our very own blog and hope that you will all stop by regularly on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays to see what we’re up to. We are a diverse group of writers and include authors from Great Britain, Australia, the United States, and even Egypt!

For those who may not be familiar with Medical Romance at Harlequin, we’d like to give you a thumbnail history on our wonderful genre.

According to Sheila Hodgson, Senior Editor of Medical Romance®: “Mills and Boon published Doctor/Nurse stories since its earliest days as part of the general list. However Medicals first appeared in the UK as a series (Doctor/Nurse series) in 1975.”

According to the June-September installment of Simply Books, the Harlequin Diamond Club publication, the wife of Richard Bonnycastle, the former Canadian fur trader turned paperback publisher, along with the first acquiring editor for Harlequin Books, Ruth Palmour, discovered a surprise in the local public library. There was “a large assortment of decent well-written medical romances published by a long-established London firm, Mills & Boon. In May, 1957 Ruth wrote to them, asking if Harlequin might acquire Canadian reprint rights ‘for light romances dealing with doctors and nurses’. John Boon quickly consented, and before the year was out Harlequin had published its first Mills & Boon novel, The Hospital in Buwambo by Anne Vinton.” Here’s the cover!:

From that moment on both companies bought titles from each other. Isn’t it wonderful to know that the first Doctor/Nurse stories helped start the relationship between two fantastic publishers – Harlequin, Mills & Boon?

There’s a well known story that in the 1960s, medical romance author Ivy Ferrari was as famous as The Beatles; her daughter Lillie wrote a fan letter to George Harrison and received a reply from his mother asking, “Are you by any chance related to a writer called Ivy Ferrari, who writes doctor-and-nurse romances?”

Sheila Hodgson went on to say: “Medicals was launched at HRS in North America in March 2001 as Harlequin Medical Romance and has been offered on eHarlequin since 2002. Medical titles have appeared in the North American retail market at various opportunistic points over the last 10 years, in Presents Extra, Reader’s Choice, and various incremental and key account programmes.”

Though we are not available on the shelf in book stores, each month four Medical Romances are available here at eHarlequin under Medical Romance, and a nice list of back log books is also available in case you’ve missed one!

We’ve come a long way since Anne Vinton and Ivy Ferrari wrote Doctor/Nurse stories! If you haven’t tried a Medical Romance® lately, be sure check us out!

Now that we’ve shared our history with you, we’d love to hear how you first discovered medical romance. And if you haven’t read one yet – what are you waiting for?

With best wishes from the Medical Romance authors.

To have a look at some fun covers from bygone eras follow this link.

Best Wishes,
Lynne Marshall
www.lynnemarshallweb.com
Assignment: Baby, 7/09 NA 4.5 stars - Cataromance - available now!
Temporary Doctor, Surprise Father, 6/09 UK - still available in UK
The Boss and Nurse Albright 3/10 UK

Medicals

Posted on June 29th, 2009, 2:09pm by ELLEN TOO

I discovered medicals on the Harlequin site while I was ordering books from other categories and now I have a subscription to the four available here. I do wish they would start selling all six of the books on site here in the US.

December 2008 MEMBER of the MONTH!

A true teacher is a person who, at the end of the school day, still likes children!

Hi Ellen! I'm so glad you

Posted on June 29th, 2009, 3:07pm by Lynne Marshall

Hi Ellen! I'm so glad you discovered us! Thanks for wanting all six each month!

Yay Lynne, we're here!

Posted on June 29th, 2009, 3:44pm by Fiona

Hi, Everyone,

We're pretty excited about this blog and we're pushing forward with a few teething problems...Lynne Marshall actually wrote the blog above so a BIG thanks to Lynne and sorry you lost your byline! Janice Lynn has recently had an online read at eharlequin so I think her name was high in Jayne's head.

So when did I discover Medical Romance? I think it must have been on a summer holiday at the beach around 16. I loved the complexities of the story...not just the H & H falling in love but the stories of the patients. It started my love affair with all things medical and I love the TV shows like Grey's Anatomy and Scrubs and I went on to become a nurse. I didn't actually think about writing a medical romance until I had my first child when thoughts turn to 'can I work from home?'

Cheers

Fiona :-)

Cheers,
Fiona
Fiona's Website

Miracle: Twin Babies USA OUT NOW

Discovering Medicals

Posted on June 29th, 2009, 4:25pm by linda margaret

I discovered the North American medicals in 2002 when I bought a eHarlequin theme collection called St Elizabeth's Children's Hospital. I really enjoyed it and discovered the UK books on the UK website and learned soon after they were available in NA as well and started my reader's sevice order in 2002 as well. I then sought out as many back issues as I could find and finding authors like Caroline Anderson that I really enjoyed, I then looked further afield to the UK and even obtained a couple of books that were originally published in Australia. My medical collection numbers about 400 NA books and 300 UK books. I think I have complete collections of a number of my favourite authors.

My regret is that only 4 books a month are published here. The rest have to be obtained from Mills and Boon in the UK. As the publishing dates vary between the two regions I sometimes end up with duplicates. (Much better than having missing ones however!!)

I am glad to see this blog and hope it helps spread the word on what great books these are.

Linda

Literacy is for Life!!
Instill the love for reading in our children and reward them for life!!

This is so cool! I am happy

Posted on June 29th, 2009, 4:37pm by sheandeen

This is so cool! I am happy to see that the MEDROM authors have their own blog. I discovered medicals when one was shipped as a bonus book with one of my reader subscription box of books. I immediately subscribed to the MEDROM line.

2 itty bitty complaints

We only get 4 of the 6 releases.
They ship very late--the other lines ship to subscribers before they are available online or in stores. The MEDROMs ship long after (2-3 weeks) after they are available online.

But I am still happy that at least 4 books are available (readers want 6.)

Nancy
January 2009 Member of the Month
Participant in Date with Destiny 2009
Participant in Pass the Plot Spring 2009

I agree with Nancy

Posted on June 29th, 2009, 5:49pm by linda margaret

I would second Nancy's comments about mailing dates. Most of my books by subscription that I buy from other lines are available by subscription either early in the month or the month before they go on sale but medicals go on sale on the web site at the beginning of the month but don't arrive in my mailbox until the very end of the month. There should be more of a benefit to subscribing to a series month after month.

Linda

Literacy is for Life!!
Instill the love for reading in our children and reward them for life!!

Hi

Posted on June 29th, 2009, 11:23pm by shelli

I have read some of the Medical line, and enjoyed them very much!

Shelli

Great Opening Blog!

Posted on June 29th, 2009, 11:35pm by SharonArcher

Lynne, Thank you for such an interesting first blog! The first medical that I can remember specifically was one by Marion Lennox many years ago now.... but after reading your blog I think that I've almost certainly read medical romance predecessors, the Doctor/Nurse series. It is pretty exciting to think that the partnership between Harlequin and Mills & Boon all started over a lovely medical romance!

Love those old covers too!

Sharon

Sharon Archer

www.sharon-archer.com
Marriage Reunited: Baby on the Way --- UK October 2009, Aus/NZ November 2009
Bachelor Dad, Girl Next Door --- UK Apr 2010, Aus/NZ May 2010

Linda Margaret and Nancy,

Posted on June 30th, 2009, 1:09am by Lynne Marshall

Linda Margaret and Nancy, you know how much all of us MedRo authors love you! Thanks so much for your support.

Shelli, so glad you've read some of our books and enjoyed them. Keep reading! and thanks for stopping by on this momentous day.

Sharon, as our newest medro author, I'm glad you enjoyed the bits and pieces about our heritage.

Someone kick me for not mentioning Betty Neels! Harlequin Doctor-Nurse author extraordinaire.

Medicals

Posted on June 30th, 2009, 1:42am by Amy Andrews

Woohoo from me too. We're up and running.

I read my first M&B medical back in 1993!! My, how the years have flown and how I have to shake myself to believe that I'm part of it all But I think even before that, as a teenager, I'd read quite a few of the Sue Barton books too so looks like I always had a fascination with this type of storyline and then like Fiona I went on to become a nurse so hmmm.... and I love medical shows on tele..... hmmm, I'm seeing a pattern......

Waving to everyone new and old. Great to have our own blog!

Amy

Looking for a Xmas miracle? Look no further. A Doctor, A Nurse: A Christmas Baby out now in the UK and online!

Whoo, we're here!

Posted on June 30th, 2009, 2:58am by Kate Hardy

Great post to start us off, Lynne!

Chiming in from England (blimey, busy here already - lovely to see everyone here).

First Medical romances? I started reading them in 2000, when I was pregnant. I thought it was an Aussie line at first, because I read Marion Lennox, Meredith Webber, Lucy Clark, Alison Roberts and Helen Sheldon... and then I discovered Caroline Anderson, Maggie Kingsley and Jennifer Taylor.

Didn't go your route, Amy, but my mum was a nurse :o) I think if she'd been alive now she would've been collaborating with me.

Winner of the RNA Romance Prize 2008, shortlisted 2009
http://www.katehardy.com
http://katehardy.blogspot.com
Current releases: Surrender to the Playboy Sheikh; Playboy Boss, Pregnancy of Passion; Temporary Boss, Permanent Mistress

I started to read Betty

Posted on June 30th, 2009, 6:17am by Fake Frenchie

I started to read Betty Neels' books at my grandmother's house back in the mid-1970s. I still don't read much else in medical romance, but I really liked the online read last month by Janice Lynn (?).

"Saving the future, one presidential edict at a time."

March's Member of the Month--2008

Up and running!

Posted on June 30th, 2009, 7:04am by Margaret McDonagh

Many thanks to all at eHarlequin for giving us our Medical blog and also to Fiona Lowe and Lynne Marshall who have done so much organising and for getting our first joint posting up and running and ready for our official launch on 1st July!

It's good to see so many people here already and thanks so much for your interesed in Medicals. I know I'm biased because I'm lucky enough to write them and be part of the Medicals family, but Medicals are special and I hope more and more readers will discover the books and enjoy them, and also that more of the books will be available each month.

I'm looking forward to reading the posts each Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and learning what my fellow authors are up to!! Also to "meeting" more of the lovely readers who are kind enough to support us.

Best wishes,

Margaret

www.margaretmcdonagh.com

THE EMERGENCY DOCTOR CLAIMS HIS WIFE - Medical - US Aug 09 - (Strathlochan book 7) THE REBEL SURGEON'S PROPOSAL - Medical - US - Sept 09 - (Strathlochan book 8) ITALIAN DOCTOR, DREAM PROPOSAL - Medical - UK Oct 09 (Strathlochan book 9)

Yeah for medicals!

Posted on June 30th, 2009, 8:25am by romancern

Glad we're up and running and I too commend everyone behind the scenes who have made this project possible. Medicals were a staple of romances years ago and I was just wondering when had they fallen out of "favor" so to speak or why they lost popularity. Every reader I speak with simply can't get enough, so it seems contradictory information.

Molly

The Passion Of Romance. The Drama Of Medicine.
Molly Evans

Hello from the US

Posted on July 1st, 2009, 11:05am by Anne Fraser

Hi everyone

Joining in from California! Seems right somehow for my first comment on the eharlequin site. I knew the US was big, but when you get here, the distances are just so huge. (Compared to the UK)

Thanks, Lynne for starting us off. People often smile when they hear I am a med author who was a nurse and is married to a doctor. It's like I starred in my very own book- although we never actually worked together. It is quite common for medical professionals to meet and marry. I know tons of couples who fell in love on the ward or clinic or theatre.

I think that's the lovely thing about medicals. There are so many settings and specialties to write about.

Lynne

Posted on July 1st, 2009, 1:02pm by bookbuff

I learned of Medical Romances through a mailing I received with my first Harlequin book I ordered. It was for various series subscriptions. I had always like medicine and once thought I would like to be a nurse, but I don't like the sight of blood. So I ordered the books instead. I receive four each month and I thoroughly enjoy them. Although I wish we could order all six instead. But hopefully in the future.

I agree with Nancy's comments about the mailing dates. I'm a month or two behind in receiving the books.

Love the books, the mix between romance and medicine is always great. I especially like the stories based on the natal and pediatric wards. I'm always so shocked to read about doing surgeries on the very littlest of tykes. It's amazing what can be done.

Keep up the good work and please help us get 6 a month.

Nothing more relaxing than a good book and a cup of tea.

I especially like the

Posted on July 1st, 2009, 2:41pm by sheandeen

I especially like the stories based on the natal and pediatric wards. I'm always so shocked to read about doing surgeries on the very littlest of tykes. It's amazing what can be done.

It's even more amazing when you are the one taking care of those little tykes. I love pediatric nursing.

Nancy
January 2009 Member of the Month
Participant in Date with Destiny 2009
Participant in Pass the Plot Spring 2009

Molly, Bookbuff, Anne, Nancy

Posted on July 1st, 2009, 7:13pm by Lynne Marshall

I'm so happy to see this link is still active. Thanks all for dropping by. Originally this blog was supposed to be up today, but us Medical Romance authors are so on the ball, we started on Monday instead of Wednesday.

Molly, I don't think medicals ever fell out of favor. I think romance expanded to many different story styles and maybe the focus shifted a bit, that's all.

Bookbuff, you are the second or third person to mention that you got turned on to Medical Romance by having a promotional mailing sent to you. That's great to know that such endeavors pay off! You are a loyal reader and we love you. I wish we had some pull over six versus four books, but WE JUST WRITE THE BOOKS! ha ha. Believe me. That's all we do.

Anne! I'm so happy you are in California - my home state. North or South? I'm in Southern California, and it has been in the 80s (F not C) so you've probably had some warm weather. I'm also glad to see your profile link is up and running, and that you'll be blogging some time this month. And it's great to be cyber shelf mates with you this month here in NA.

Nancy, my hat's off to you about pediatrics. I did my rotation in nursing school, but the thought of using scalp veins for IVs just creeped me out! The very first Intramuscular shot I gave was to a peds patient. Broke my heart.

Thanks for stopping by folks! We feel really happy to be blogging here.

Great new blog!

Posted on July 1st, 2009, 11:53pm by SerenaMT

Hi,

I've been reading Medicals for many years and loving them. Nice to see thay have a blog all to themselves. Nice to see some familiar faces too.

Hugs

Serena

Serena
Melbourne, Australia

Just keep on writing them.

Posted on July 2nd, 2009, 5:57am by bookbuff

Lynne and all the other medical romance authors, just keep writing them and even if its only four not six I continue to enjoy them. I'll go to the Mills & Boon website to order the other two.

Nancy thank you for taking good care of the little tykes. It must be so rewarding at times.

Nothing more relaxing than a good book and a cup of tea.

I want to second bookbuff's comments

Posted on July 2nd, 2009, 6:37am by linda margaret

I will add my voice to those asking for six books but will continue to buy my four here in NA and buy the missing ones from M&B in the UK. They provide a good service for overseas customers. Just want to encourage our writers to continue the great job they are doing.

Linda

Literacy is for Life!!
Instill the love for reading in our children and reward them for life!!

Loved the

Posted on July 2nd, 2009, 7:55am by debkc3

bit of medical history but I really enjoy the line and will continue to do so as long as the books are available. May this line continue for a long and happy life. I learn so much reading this line. I remember reading some Betty Neels years ago and no I won't say how long ago.

The D2K Paranormal Junkies ~ 2008 Book Challenge Blog

Serena, Bookbuff, Linda M. and Deb

Posted on July 2nd, 2009, 5:34pm by Lynne Marshall

Serena, it's so nice to "meet" you here at the blog. I'm glad you've found us. I hope you'll bookmark us and come back often.

Bookbuff, Linda Margaret and Deb - we love you ladies for being such loyal readers. TELL YOU FRIENDS!

California

Posted on July 3rd, 2009, 12:59pm by Anne Fraser

Hi again everyone

Still in California in the Monterey region and loving it. It is just so beautiful. Stewart and I went for a walk in the Point Lobos State Reserve and there was a different view every few yards. Already plotting to come back.

We are off to Yosemite this morning and if I can find an internet spot, I plan to be blogging on Monday. Hope some of you will come to say hello.

Anne

Yosemite

Posted on July 3rd, 2009, 9:48pm by Lynne Marshall

Anne, you'll love Yosemite, too. Incredible place. Oh, and if you're staying at either of the two lodges in the valley of Yosemite, they have wireless in the lobby, so if you brought your laptop, you'll be good to go!

Looking forward to your blog on Monday!

Betty Neels and Mary Burchell

Posted on July 4th, 2009, 1:16am by Kaelee

were my first two authors whose books I collected. I started reading Harleqin Romance the summer I turned 11 and this summer I turn 61. My first nurse books were Cherry Ames books. I watched Doctor Kildare and Dr Ben Casey on TV. I don't get all the medicals but I do get some. I've really enjoyed most of the ones I've read.

2009 February's Member of the Month

When I get a little money I buy books, and then if any is left I buy food and clothes..-- Erasmus
Cats can work out mathematically the exact place to sit that will cause the most inconvenience.--Pam Brown

Kaelee

Posted on July 5th, 2009, 11:54pm by Lynne Marshall

Hi Kaelee!

I'm so glad you've given Medical Romances a try, and that you've enjoyed most of them. I hope you'll read a whole lot more and enjoy them, too!

FWIW, I used to watch Dr. Kildare, too!

I tried to upload a Cherry Ames cover especially for you, but it didn't work out. Sorry!

Fabulous Post, Lynne!

Posted on July 7th, 2009, 1:20am by Janice Marie Lynn

I just turned in my lastest book and am trying to catch up on all the Medical Author blog posts. I stopped by for a quick drive by the other day, but hadn't read all the posts. Lynne, I enjoyed yours very much. A great introduction to the Medical line. :)

Thanks Fake Frenchie for your comment on the online read. That was so much fun!!! You ladies rocked! :)

Surgeon Boss, Surprise Dad Harlequin Medical Available Now
The Doctor's Meant-to-be Marriage Harlequin Medical Available Now
www.janicelynn.net

Hey Janice!

Posted on July 7th, 2009, 1:30am by Lynne Marshall

Good to see you out and about, Janice.

Yeah, this Medical Romance blog is a kick. So many topics, so many authors, so many Mondays and Wednesdays and Fridays! And Tuesdays and Thursdays, if we feel like it!

I love the history of Medicals. And your online read was a smashing success. Go you!